Walking in the Fields of Gold
Walking in the Fields of Gold will span over two lots on the Mannheim Site. The lots are sub-divided into smaller plots that would better curate a human scaled experience.
Walking in the Fields of Gold is an art installation that integrates solar, wind, kinetic energy harvesting on the project site in Mannheim, Germany. The modules integrate canopies overhead that will utilize a Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC) fabric. This allows the textiles to have energy harvesting capabilities. DSSCs are categorized as thin-film solar cells that are integrated into a textile structure. The Fabric will also utilize the motion captured by the wind in order to harvest secondary additional kinetic energy. On the ground level, piezo electric pavers will harvest kinetic energy from visitors’ footsteps proactively immersing pedestrians in the sustainable art installation. Lastly, the installation would include modules that collect rainwater that can be filtered and used for the agricultural program on site. The infrastructure not only provides power to the agricultural infrastructure on site, but also its adjacent community.
The site will have features of a public park, but it will also be a platform for agricultural program and education. Walking in the Fields of Gold will be a series of modular follies that populate the site. The remaining area of any unused landscape will be used as agricultural grounds for harvesting food for migrant farmers.
Modular Design
The structural grid of each module is 5 meters wide, by 5 meter deep, by 5 meters tall. Each module consists of wooden structural members, DSSC fabric, piezo-electric pavers and/or water collection modules. The three-dimensional grid layout allows the system to be expanded horizontally and vertically in order to meet the power needs of its adjacent community, or to take advantage of its natural environment.
Site: Mannheim, Germany
Program: Public Space, Agriculture & Art
Year: 2022
Status: Open Competition; Finalist for LAGI 2022